Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
area, ongoing as of 2012, dates from the abduction of 21 hostages from Sipadan by
Philippines-based Abu Sayyaf terrorists in 2000.
» Borneo is generally very safe for travellers of both sexes, but in villages and logging
camps things can get dodgy when alcohol enters the picture.
» Saltwater crocodiles are a very real danger in waterways, especially in muddy estuaries.
Exercise caution when swimming in rivers, even far inland, and never swim near river
mouths.
» In Kalimantan, transport standards on land and water and in the air are dodgy, roads and
even bridges are frequently washed out, and some drivers are a menace to themselves and
other road users.
» The Indonesian part of the island isn't anywhere near as dangerous as many Malaysians
seem to think - violent crime is very rare - but keep your wits about you, especially in the
cities.
GOVERNMENT TRAVEL ADVICE
The following government websites offer travel advisories and information on current hot spots:
»
Australian Department of Foreign Affairs
(
www.smarttraveller.gov.au
)
»
British Foreign Office
(
www.fco.gov.uk
)
»
Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs
(
www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca
)
»
US State Department
(
www.travel.state.gov
)
Telephone
Cheap prepaid SIM cards make it easy and remarkably inexpensive to keep in touch, both
with local contacts and family and friends around the world. If you bring your own gad-
get, make sure it can handle 900/1800MHz and is not locked. In Borneo, the cheapest
Nokia mobile phones start at about US$40.
